My mother and I had spent years treating the Luna’s chronic headaches, and in gratitude, Luna Dayana Vasquez bestowed upon me the Luna’s insignia—a rare honor—and offered to arrange my mating. Without hesitation, I chose the fifth Lycan Prince, Rhys Mason.

The pack was abuzz with whispers of disbelief. After all, it was no secret that I had adored the ninth Lycan Prince, Karson Mason, for sixteen years, even declaring that I would never mate anyone but him. In my past life, Luna Dayana had indeed arranged my mating with Karson. But on the night of our mark ceremony, he had humiliated me in front of the entire pack, accusing me of tearing him apart from my adopted sister, Tallulah Powell, and leaving me alone in the mating chamber.

For three years, he refused to let me near him. When Luna Dayana learned of this, she sent Tallulah to a distant territory. Karson believed I had conspired to separate them out of jealousy, and in retaliation, he forced me to drink a concoction that left me barren. He filled our home with other she-wolves, binding me outside his room to witness his infidelity. The poison from that drink caused my body to fester, and his mates took pleasure in reopening my wounds until I finally succumbed to the pain.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment Luna Dayana offered to arrange my mating. But this time, I chose differently.

---

“Simone Mason, are you certain? Once the decree is made, there will be no turning back,” Luna Dayana asked, her voice steady but probing.

I knelt before her, my head bowed. “I am resolved, Your Grace. I humbly request the mating decree.”

As I left the Luna’s chambers with the decree in hand, the pack’s murmurs followed me like a shadow. I held my head high, my steps measured as I made my way out of the packhouse.

In the gardens, I stumbled upon Karson and Tallulah. They were laughing softly, their closeness unmistakable. The warmth in Karson’s eyes as he looked at Tallulah was something I had never seen directed at me.

But the moment he noticed me, his expression turned cold.

“Simone,” he said, his voice sharp. “What are you doing here? Did you follow us?”

Tallulah flashed me a smug smile, her voice dripping with false concern. “Karson, please don’t be so harsh. Simone… she just cares for you deeply. Perhaps she feels threatened by my presence.”

Karson’s jaw tightened. “She’s always been petty! As her sister, you’ve done nothing but endure her jealousy.”

I smiled faintly, offering no defense. In my past life, I had tried to explain, even brought my mother, Jacqueline Alvarez, to vouch for me. But Karson had accused us of conspiring to slander Tallulah. There was no point in explaining now.

“If you’ll excuse me, Lycan Prince Karson, I’ll take my leave,” I said, my tone polite but distant.

His anger faltered for a moment, his gaze narrowing as he studied me. “What did you just call me?”

Before I could respond, he let out a derisive laugh. “You’ve already begged the Luna for a mating decree with me, and now you’re pretending to be aloof? Who are you trying to fool?”

He didn’t yet know the decree wasn’t for him. I shook my head calmly. “The decree I sought was not for you.”

His brows furrowed in disbelief. “The entire pack knows you’ve been obsessed with me for sixteen years. Who else could you possibly mate?”

I smiled faintly, deciding against further explanation. Tallulah, however, had been eyeing the decree in my hands. She burst into tears, her voice trembling. “Karson, if the decree is already issued, then I’ll leave. We should never see each other again…”

Karson immediately grabbed her hand, his voice urgent. “Even if she forces me into a mating bond, I’ll never truly be hers! Tallulah, I promise you, I’ll keep my word.”

I found the entire exchange tedious and turned to leave. Just then, a group of she-wolves approached, congratulating me on the Luna’s decree. Karson, not bothering to wait for them to finish, declared loudly, “Simone, if you insist on mating with me, I’ll make Tallulah my second mate!”

The she-wolves exchanged uneasy glances, one of them starting to say, “Lycan Prince Karson, you seem mistaken. Simone’s mating decree is with the fifth Lycan Prince—”

I interrupted her calmly. “It’s unnecessary to explain. Whomever you choose as your mate is of no concern to me.”

He looked momentarily pleased, but I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I turned and walked away, leaving the garden and its echoes of my past behind.

Not long after returning home, the promise Karson made to make Tallulah his mate arrived at our door.

A carriage full of lavish gifts—expensive jewelry, rare artifacts, and finely crafted furniture—was delivered straight to Tallulah’s room. My mother, Jacqueline, was furious. She stormed into the room, calling the whole situation absurd, and demanded Tallulah face punishment. She even threatened to use the pack’s disciplinary measures.

When I heard the commotion and rushed over, Karson was already there, shielding Tallulah like a protective barrier. His voice was sharp, his tone commanding, as he glared at my mother.

“If you lay a finger on Tallulah, you’ll have to go through me first!” he snarled.

“Don’t think I don’t know how you’ve mistreated her all these years,” he continued, his voice rising with every word. “If you dare hurt her, I’ll take this straight to the Alpha and Luna. Let them decide what to do with you!”

Tallulah stood behind him, her shoulders trembling as she let out soft sobs, playing the victim to perfection.

I stepped forward, placing a calming hand on my mother’s arm. “Mother, let it go,” I said quietly, though my own heart was racing.

My mother’s eyes were wild with anger as she pointed a shaking finger at Tallulah. “Simone, this girl has been taking everything from you since you were children. Tell me the truth—did you choose to mate with Karson because of her?”

“No,” I interrupted before she could finish. “It was my choice.”

Then I turned to Karson, my voice calm but firm. “My mother acted out of line today. I hope you’ll forgive her.”

He scoffed, his lips curling into a sneer. “Don’t play the saint now. You only backed down because I threatened to take this to the Alpha and Luna. Don’t think I don’t see through your act.”

I didn’t argue. Instead, I simply nodded. “You’re right, Karson. I apologize.”

With that, he grabbed Tallulah’s hand and led her away to inspect the gifts he’d brought. Each item was something rare and luxurious, the kind of things that would make anyone’s eyes widen with envy.

I remembered, in my past life, how he’d once told me that if he truly loved someone, he’d give them the most precious things in the world. Back then, he’d tossed me a simple necklace, and I’d foolishly thought it was his way of showing affection.

I’d worn that necklace for years, clinging to the hope that it meant something—until the day he ripped it off my neck and tossed it into a river, his voice cold and mocking.

“It’s just something I got tired of,” he’d said. “Don’t tell me you actually thought I cared about you.”

Now, watching him shower Tallulah with gifts, I finally saw what it looked like when he truly loved someone.

They returned to the room, and Karson’s expression darkened as he turned to me.

“Tallulah says you took something her mother left for her,” he accused, his voice cutting through the air. “Give it back.”

I frowned, confused. “I’ve never taken anything of hers.”

His eyes narrowed, and his tone grew colder. “Are you calling her a liar? She’s already gone to your room to look for it. When she finds it, you won’t be able to deny it.”

My heart sank as I realized what was happening. The Luna’s mark—a symbol of my standing in the pack—was still in my room. Panic surged through me, and I quickly turned to leave.

But before I could step out of the courtyard, Tallulah returned, a triumphant smile on her face.

“Karson!” she exclaimed, holding up a delicate necklace. “I found it! It’s exactly what my mother left for me!”

Karson’s face twisted with anger as he glared at me. “Still going to deny it? What’s this, then?”

I stared at the necklace, something I’d never seen before, and then at Tallulah’s smug expression. I knew exactly what she was doing.

“I’ve never seen that necklace in my life,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.

“Never seen it?” Karson barked. “Fine. I’ll take this straight to the Lycan Queen. Let her see what kind of person you really are!”

With that, he grabbed Tallulah’s hand and stormed off, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding.

I hurried back to my room, my mind racing. The moment I stepped inside, I saw the chaos—drawers pulled open, clothes scattered everywhere. My stomach dropped as I realized the truth.

The Luna’s mark was gone.